[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 121 (Thursday, June 23, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36888-36890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15690]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 65, 119, 121, 135, and 142

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0677; Notice No. 08-07A]
RIN 2120-AJ00


Qualification, Service, and Use of Crewmembers and Aircraft 
Dispatchers; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM); extension 
of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for an SNPRM that was 
published on May 20, 2011. In that document, the FAA proposed to amend 
the regulations for crewmember and aircraft dispatcher training 
programs in domestic, flag, and supplemental operations. This extension 
is a result of requests for extension of the comment period. One 
request for extension was from the Air Transport Association of 
America, Cargo Airline Association, Air Carrier Association of America, 
Regional Airline Association, National Air Carrier Association, Boeing 
Company, and Airbus Americas. The second request for extension was from 
the Air Line Pilots Association. The third request for extension was 
from the International Air Transport Association.

DATES: The comment period for the SNPRM published on May 20, 2011, was 
scheduled to close on July 19, 2011, and is extended until September 
19, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments identified by docket number FAA-2008-
0677 using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room 
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket 
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.

[[Page 36889]]

    Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without 
change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information the commenter provides. Using the search function of the 
docket Web site, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all 
comments received into any FAA docket, including the name of the 
individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an 
association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement can be found in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477-19478), as well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket or Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the 
West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, 
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For flightcrew member information 
contact James K. Sheppard, email: [email protected]; for flight 
attendant information contact Nancy Lauck Claussen, email: 
[email protected]; and for aircraft dispatcher information 
contact Leo D. Hollis, email: [email protected]; Air Transportation 
Division (AFS-200), Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone (202) 267-8166. For legal questions, contact Anne Bechdolt, 
Office of Chief Counsel (AGC-200), Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, 20591; email: 
[email protected]; telephone 202-267-3073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    See the ``Additional Information'' section for information on how 
to comment on this proposal and how the FAA will handle comments 
received. The ``Additional Information'' section also contains related 
information about the docket, privacy, the handling of proprietary or 
confidential business information. In addition, there is information on 
obtaining copies of related rulemaking documents.

Background

    On May 20, 2011, the FAA published Notice No. 08-07A, 
Qualification, Service, and Use of Crewmembers and Aircraft Dispatchers 
(76 FR 29336). Comments to that document were to be received on or 
before July 19, 2011.
    In a letter dated May 25, 2011, the Air Transport Association of 
America, Cargo Airline Association, Air Carrier Association of America, 
Regional Airline Association, National Air Carrier Association, Boeing 
Company, and Airbus Americas requested a 180-day extension of the 
comment period. In a letter dated May 27, 2011, the Air Line Pilots 
Association requested a 60-day extension of the comment period. In 
addition, in an undated letter, the International Air Transport 
Association requested a 180-day extension of the comment period. The 
petitioners noted that the SNPRM and supporting documents are 
extensive.
    While the FAA concurs with the petitioners' requests for an 
extension of the comment period on Notice No. 08-07A, it does not 
support a 180-day extension. The FAA finds that providing an additional 
60 days is sufficient for these petitioners to analyze the SNPRM and 
supporting documents and provide meaningful comment to Notice No. 08-
07A.
    The FAA does not anticipate any further extension of the comment 
period for this rulemaking.

Extension of Comment Period

    In accordance with Sec.  11.47(c) of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, the FAA has reviewed the petitions for extension of the 
comment period to Notice No. 08-07A. These petitioners have shown a 
substantive interest in the proposed rule and good cause for the 
extension. The FAA has determined that extension of the comment period 
is consistent with the public interest, and that good cause exists for 
taking this action.
    Accordingly, the comment period for Notice No. 08-07A is extended 
until September 19, 2011.

Additional Information

A. Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. The agency 
also invites comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, 
or federalism impacts that might result from adopting the proposals in 
this document. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion 
of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and 
include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain 
duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written 
comments, or if comments are filed electronically, commenters should 
submit only one time.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well 
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this 
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before 
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed 
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without 
incurring expense or delay. The agency may change this proposal in 
light of the comments it receives.
    Proprietary or Confidential Business Information: Do not file 
proprietary or confidential business information in the docket. Such 
information must be sent or delivered directly to the person identified 
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document, and 
marked as proprietary or confidential. If submitting information on a 
disk or CD-ROM, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM, and identify 
electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the specific information that 
is proprietary or confidential.
    Under 14 CFR 11.35(b), if the FAA is aware of proprietary 
information filed with a comment, the agency does not place it in the 
docket. It is held in a separate file to which the public does not have 
access, and the FAA places a note in the docket that it has received 
it. If the FAA receives a request to examine or copy this information, 
it treats it as any other request under the Freedom of Information Act 
(5 U.S.C. 552). The FAA processes such a request under Department of 
Transportation procedures found in 49 CFR part 7.

B. Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    An electronic copy of rulemaking documents may be obtained from the 
Internet by--
    1. Searching the Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov);
    2. Visiting the FAA's Regulations and Policies Web page at http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies or
    3. Accessing the Government Printing Office's Web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
    Copies may also be obtained by sending a request to the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, ARM-1, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-9680. 
Commenters must identify the docket or notice number of this 
rulemaking.


[[Page 36890]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 17, 2011.
Dennis R. Pratte,
Acting Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2011-15690 Filed 6-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P